Lens hood

[bigdarfan]

This is probably a dumb question, but can someone explain to me the cutouts on my lens hoods? Why do they make them with cutouts and not just solid all the way around?

[Tusker]

Not really sure the reason for this. The older ones were not cut out. One might think it a cost cutting measure, but I don't see THAT being the case. I am sure someone got a lot of money for coming up with the idea. I was away from the camera for a few years so I really have NO idea. ??

[bob_r]

This is probably a dumb question, but can someone explain to me the cutouts on my lens hoods? Why do they make them with cutouts and not just solid all the way around?

The purpose of the tulip shaped hoods is to reduce vignetting. Here's a link that explains it in a lot of detail: http://toothwalker.org/optics/lenshood.html

[bigdarfan]

Thanks Bob. I knew that. I remember now learning this a long time ago, but for whatever reason I couldn't remember. I am getting old. Thanks again, and Happy New Year.

[Bonish Photo]

If you notice that lenses with cut-outs on the hood are usually wide angle zooms. Like Bob pointed out, this is so when the lens is at its widest angle, it reduces the Vignetting.

This is also why medium to long telephotos dont have the cut-outs. There is usually little vignetting with a longer telephoto